Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (EP)
Udupi, May 18: “When local staff respond immediately during rain floods and natural disasters, further damages can be prevented and relief measures can be taken up,” said deputy commissioner M Kurma Rao.
He was speaking after presiding over a meeting at Rajathadri district panchayat auditorium on Wednesday May 18, about precautions that need to be taken as agricultural activities are about to commence.
“Preparations should be made as indications of heavy rain and natural disasters are being received. The areas that were affected last year should be identified so that disaster relief measures can be conducted easily,” he said.
“Demonstrations on how to face natural disasters should be held in every taluk so that there may be experience on use of necessary tools. Compensation should be paid for loss of life within 24 hours. Reports of crop loss and damage to houses should be submitted within 24 hours so that compensation can be distributed without delay.”
“Meetings should be held at taluk level, gram panchayat level and at the level of other local bodies about natural disasters, do suitable preparations and those who are victims should be helped immediately,” he said.
“Control rooms are opened at district level with toll free number 1077, 1912 for Mescom related issues and 1912 for rescue operations. 112 can be contacted during emergency needs,” he said.
“Take measures to prevent stagnation of rain water on national highways. Street lights should be installed at Kundapur, Padubidri, Kaup national highways. There are landslides at some places in Byndoor, which should be attended to. Telephone number 1033 can be contacted in such cases,” he said.
“Stagnation of rain water leads to an increase of mosquitoes causing diseases. Instead of treating illnesses, take measures to prevent them,” he said to the health department officials.
“Dangerous roadside trees should be axed so that those do not pose a problem for traffic during heavy rain and storms,” he said to the forest department officials.
The rain so far in the district was more than normal. One person has died, one is injured, there was damage to cultivation in 51 cases, five houses are completely damaged and 107 houses are partly damaged. The total loss was Rs 56,53,118 and Rs 15,48,343 were distributed as compensation in 91 cases,” he said.
He asked to procure necessary boats for use during floods and to identify spots to open relief camps.
He asked Mescom officials to attend to snapped electric cables and ensure that people do not come in contact with live wires.
District panchayat CEO Prasanna H, Coast guard force SP Anshukumar, additional DC Veena, AAC Siddalingappa, district panchayat chief project officer Srinivas Rao, Kundapur sub division officer Raju and other district level officers were present.